European Journal of Cardiovascular Medicine

Clinical Reasoning (CR) is an important aspect of health professional education and practice. The basics and fundamentals, when put together, reflect a physician’s ability to make decisions and diagnoses. The cognitive processes involved in clinical reasoning are complex and layered. CR is the process through which physicians gather cues and data (usually from history and physical examination as well as other clues or information available), process the information, come to an understanding of the patients’ problems or situation, plan and implement the necessary interventions, evaluate the responses and outcomes, as well as reflect on or off the job as relevant for deeper learning. It is a complex series of steps and cognitive functions, involving higher level thinking to define the problems, examine the evidence and then making decisions and choices to improve the patient’s physiological and psycho-social state. This paper discusses, in a simplified manner, critical thinking and CR, the Dual Process Framework continuum (from the intuitive to the analytical) to explain physicians’ approach to CR as well as the common errors and biases involved in the process. The first step to create awareness of the need to enhance and sharpen CR is indeed to become more conscious of the steps undertaken, on a daily basis, as physicians encounter their patients and plan their management.